Democratic Erosion University Course Student Blog

Students enrolled in our course are encouraged to write for the course blog, and to read and comment on posts from students at other participating universities. The blog offers students the opportunity to analyze current events through the lens of the theory and case studies they engage with through the course.

These blogs reflect the views of the student authors, and not those of the Democratic Erosion Consortium.

History Repeats: Why Strong Global Defense is Key to Preventing Autocracy

A strong and consistent global defense by democratic nations is crucial to preventing the rise of autocratic regimes, as history shows—from the Cold War doctrines to the failed democratization of Afghanistan—that without committed follow-through and structural reform, authoritarian forces will exploit weaknesses and reclaim power.

Women in Political Dynasties: The Illusion of Choice and Democratic Erosion in the Philippines

Political dynasties have long controlled Philippine politics, with powerful families passing down leadership positions across generations. Despite the imposition of term limits discouraging dynastic rule, these families have found their way around the constitutional...

From Stardom to Senate: The Alarming Trend of Celebrity Politics in the Philippines

The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the country's...

Italy’s Populist Experiment

Oct 14, 2022 | Boston University

The election of Italy's Giorgia Meloni brings to light decades old tensions between technocracy and democracy within EU countries. On September 26, 2022, Giorgia Meloni,...

Silenced: Detainment of Opposition Politicians in Benin

Oct 14, 2022 | Ohio State University

Prior to 2016, Benin was considered to be a very stable democracy. Between 1991, when it became a democracy, and 2016, Benin experienced many free and fair elections,...

Populism in Kenyan Presidential Elections as a Threat to Democracy by Mackenzi Elias @ UCLA

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Since gaining its independence from British Colonial rule in 1963, Kenya has evolved into a stable, economically sound nation with an exemplary democratic system. Its government has adopted a...

How Much Longer Does Turkey Have Before it Erupts? by Nefthaly Rivera @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

As seen in several cases of democratic erosion, cunning politicians get publicly elected on a popular platform, and as soon as their shoes hit the floor of their shiny new office they change their...

Is Italy Flirting with Fascism Once Again? by Kelsey Holmes @ UCLA

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

The recent general election in Italy that occurred on March 4, 2018, showed that the state is moving away from its democratic ties. Democratic backsliding can be defined as the breaking down of,...

Is South Korea heading away from democratic form of government?

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Economic success and economic allocation under authoritarian political suppression began to be overturned in South Korea during the late 1980’s. Democratic policies gradually substituted autarchy...

The Death of Russian Democracy Under Putin by Jordan Nakdimon @ UCLA

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

On March 4th, 2018, the Russian government, led by President Vladimir Putin, demonstrated once again what almost the entire world already knows: Russia is currently a highly aggressive, largely...

Austrian Democracy is Safe – For Now by Lindsey Powell @ University of Pennsylvania

Mar 14, 2018 | University of Pennsylvania

On March 12th, Austrian citizens and political elites gathered at Heldenplatz, the public courtyard in front of Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. The date marks the 80th anniversary of Hitler’s "Anschluss",...

Is Poland Facing Democratic Backsliding? by Kensharra Davis @UCLA

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Is Poland Facing Democratic Backsliding? “Free courts, free elections, and free Poland,” are the words that many people chant as they protest in Warsaw [1]. In 2015, the presidential and...

Kenya’s Presidential Election: A Troubling Sign for Democracy by Frances Strnad @ University of California, Los Angeles

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

This past fall, Kenyans voted for a new president. The election, which was supposed to be one of the most democratic elections the country has seen, was tarnished by fake news and a voting scandal....

Is Democracy In Canada Really Eroding? by Damian Glover @ University of California Los Angeles

Mar 14, 2018 | University of California, Los Angeles

Is Democracy in the "Most Friendly Nation in the World" Eroding? The simple answer to the question is no. In America there is a constant fight between political parties as well as the people who...